A Complete Guide to Casting a Ziwei Doushu Chart: 14 Main Stars, Six Auspicious and Six Malefic Stars, the Four Transformations, and Shensha

Casting a Ziwei Doushu chart may look complicated at first, but if you follow the process step by step, it is actually quite approachable. This article starts with the most basic birth-data preparation, then moves through placing the Life Palace, determining the five-element bureau, and locating the Ziwei star, before giving you a quick overview of the fourteen main stars, the six auspicious and six malefic stars, and the four transformations. Once you understand these steps, you can begin to read what the chart is really saying.

Step 1: prepare your birth "password"

The first thing you need in charting is your birth year, month, day, and hour. Ziwei Doushu uses the lunar calendar, so if you only have your Gregorian birth date, it is best to convert it first using a perpetual calendar or a reliable digital tool.

Do not ignore true solar time
Historically, the double-hour system was based on the Sun's actual position in the sky. Today we live with standardized time zones and, in some places, daylight saving rules, so it is best to correct the birth time to true solar time before charting. Sometimes even a difference of a few dozen minutes can shift the birth time into the next double-hour, resulting in a very different chart. Professional charting tools, including those on the Ming Ming 3 site, will usually help calculate this automatically, and it is a step worth taking seriously.

Once you have the lunar date, corrected time, and gender, you can begin placing the palaces.

The standard charting workflow

Most people now use software to cast charts, but understanding the logic behind the process makes interpretation much clearer:

1. Place the Life Palace and Body Palace according to the birth month and birth hour.
2. Determine the five-element bureau: water 2, wood 3, metal 4, earth 5, or fire 6.
3. Locate the Ziwei star. This is the key step. Once Ziwei is fixed, the overall framework of the chart begins to take shape.
4. Place the fourteen main stars, auxiliary stars, malefic stars, and the four transformations.

The fourteen main stars: the chart's structural frame

The fourteen main stars are divided into two major groups: the Ziwei star system and the Tianfu star system. Their order follows fixed placement rules.

Ziwei system (placed counterclockwise):
Ziwei -> Tianji -> (skip one palace) -> Taiyang -> Wuqu -> Tiantong -> (skip two palaces) -> Lianzhen.

Tianfu system (placed clockwise):
Tianfu -> Taiyin -> Tanlang -> Jumen -> Tianxiang -> Tianliang -> Qisha -> (skip three palaces) -> Pojun.

There is a fixed relative relationship between Ziwei and Tianfu. Once Ziwei has been placed correctly, the other thirteen main stars will fall into position accordingly.

The six auspicious stars: your helpful allies

Auspicious stars add support and extra lift. They do not guarantee a trouble-free life, but they strengthen the main stars and often make outcomes smoother.

• Zuofu and Youbi: support and cooperation. Zuofu tends to show more active assistance, while Youbi is gentler and more accommodating.
• Wenchang and Wenqu: talent and reputation. Wenchang leans more toward orthodox learning, while Wenqu points more strongly toward artistry, communication, and refined skill.
• Tiankui and Tianyue: nobleman stars. They represent opportunity, guidance, and support from capable or senior people.

The six malefic stars: the sharpening stones of life

Malefic stars do not automatically mean disaster. More often, they indicate resistance, change, or forceful momentum.

• Qingyang and Tuoluo: competition and persistence. Qingyang is forceful and bold but can bring injury or friction. Tuoluo is slower, more tangled, and often linked to delay or inner struggle.
• Huoxing and Lingxing: sudden shifts and emotional volatility. Huoxing is more explosive, while Lingxing is subtler and more inward.
• Dikong and Dijie: fluctuation and emptiness. They can indicate loss or instability, but they can also push a person toward detachment, insight, or spiritual depth.

When malefic stars combine well with strong main stars such as Ziwei or Qisha, they can sometimes be transformed into powerful drive and execution.

The four transformations: the chart's dynamic soul

The four transformations are the most dynamic part of Ziwei Doushu. They describe how energy changes form:

• Hua Lu: opportunity, abundance, and enjoyment.
• Hua Quan: control, authority, and achievement.
• Hua Ke: reputation, talent, and helpful people.
• Hua Ji: pressure, obstacles, and turning points.

The four transformations are determined by the heavenly stem of the birth year. For example, for someone born in a Jia year, Lianzhen becomes Hua Lu and Taiyang becomes Hua Ji. For a deeper explanation of how this works in practice, see A complete explanation of Ziwei Doushu sihua.

The shensha system: adding finer detail

In addition to the major stars, a Ziwei chart includes many smaller auxiliary indicators known as shensha, such as Hongluan, Tianxi, and Huagai. These work like seasoning in interpretation. For example, Hongluan is often used when looking at romance, while Huagai may point toward solitude, spirituality, or artistic temperament.

Closing

Charting is the foundation of interpretation. Once the time, calendar conversion, and star-placement sequence are correct, the chart becomes a meaningful map that helps you understand your life direction more clearly.

If you want to try a professional online charting tool or explore more in-depth articles, visit the Ming Ming 3 Ziwei section.